Automobile signal



bMarch 19, 1929. H, wHn-E, JR 1,706,269

AUTOMOBILE S IGNAL Filed May 26, 1927 Patented Mar. 19, 1929.

UNTE STATES PATENT orties,

HENRY WHITE, JR., OF BUFFALO,l NEVJ YORK, ASSIGNOR Oli' ONE-.HLF T0WHITE, SR., OF BUFFALO, NEW YO AUTOMOBILE SGN AL.

Application filed May 26, 1927. Serial No. 194,388.

vaccom panyi n drawing, rfb erein Figure l a vieiv in iront ele.il tionillustrating;` the application of the signal to an automobile,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional vieiv taken on the plane indicated bythe line 2-2 of Figure l, l

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View taken on the plane indicated bythe line 3--3 ol Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane indicated bythe line LlH-/l ot Figure l, y

Figure 5 is a similar view taken on the plane indicated by the line 5-5oi Figure 2,

Figure 6 is a sectional vievl illustrating the manner in which thesignal maybe supported from the visor ot the automobile, and

Figure 7 is detail view illustrating a slight modification oit thesignal.

Referring in detail to the drawing, l designates the top, 2 the frontpillars, and 3 the Windshield of anv automobile of the closed body type.lhile the signal is illustrated as applied to an automobile of thistype, it is to be understood that it is also adapted to be used onautomobiles oit the open body or touring type and on automobile trucksand the like.

The signal comprises a hollovvi shaft Il which is supported in ahorizontal position :it the front oi" the automobile and in closeproximity to the top 'l thereof. The shaft el comprises a centralsection in and end sections t" oit which the latter are telescopicallyassociated with the former so as to permit the length of the shaft to bevaried in adapting the signal for application to automobiles ofdifferent sizes. The shaft section la is provided with split ends leWhich taper in an outward direction and are externally screw threadedand upon which are mounted tapered nuts 5. The ends Ll@ of the shaft section da are compressed by the nuts 5 into such frictional contact withthe sha'tt sections il" to prevent the shaft sections es" v troni havingany rotary or endivise movement With respect to the shattsection el. Theshaft sections h project laterally beyond the sides ot the automobile,and secured thereto are signaling members t3 which are preferably in the'term of rigid pennants.

The shaft l is rotatably supported by bean ing brackets 7 in which theshalt section 4i is mounted andivhich may be secured to the body ol theautomobile or to the iframe ot the Windshield 3. The pennants G areadapted to occupy signaling or a non-signalingl4 position, and areadapted to be moved from one of s. ld positions to the other through themedium of a hand crank 8 secured Within convenient reach of the driverof the automobile. The crank 8 is secured to a shatt- 9 which isconnected to the shaft l by gears l() and ll. The gears l() and 11 areoit the bevel type, and the gear l0 is lixed to the shaft- 9 and 'thegear ll to the shaft section 4ta. The shaft 9 is journaled in a bearingsleeve l2 which passes through the part to which the bearins' brackets 7are secured and is provided with a forked extension 13 through whichthe'shatt section et passes.

lli/Then the pennants 6 are in signaling po sition, they extendvertically downward from the shaft l, as illustrated in Figures l and4l. Then the Vpennants 6 are in noni-signaling position, they extendhorizontallyl rearward from the shaft l, as shown by dotted lines inFigure il.

Electric lamps lll of the incandescent type, are employed to illuminatethe pennants 6 when the latter are in signaling position. The lamps 14are carried by casings l5 which are secured to the shaft sections 4J andarranged Within openings i6 in the penna-nts t1. The lmnp casinggs l5are fully" open at their lower end sides, and their iront and rear sidesare provided with colored lenses 17. The lamps 14: may be supplied withcurrent from the storage battery of the automobile. and any suitableswitch mechanism, not shown, may be arranged in the lamp circuits forthe purpose of closing the circuits When the pennants are in signalingposition and for the purpose of breaking the circuits When the pennantsare in non-signaling position.

ln practice the pennants 6 normally occupy their noirsignaling position,and when they are in this position the lamps l. are not-lit. When thedriver Wishes to indicate his intention to stop or make a turn, he movesthe pennants 6 from their non-signaling to their signaling positionthrough the medium of the crank 8. As soon as the pennants 6 reach theirsignaling position, thel lamps let are lit, with the result that thepennants and the lenses lf? will be illuminated. As the pennant; 6 arearranged lat-e relly beyond the sides of the automobile, and as they andthe lenses 17 are illuminated when in signaling position, they be seenJrrom the liront, rear or eithei` side ot the automobile.

The signal may be easily and quickly applied to an automobile, and itmay be easily and quickly operated to move the pennants from one oftheir positionsV to the other. jas the shaft l is adjustable as tolength, the signal may be applied to automobiles ot different sizes. itdesired, the crank S, shaft 9 and gears l0 and ll may be omitted, andany other suitable means provided for the purpose of moving the pennants6 romone ot their positions to the other. T he signal may be supportedfrom the vizor 'i8 of the automobile as shown in Figure 6. Gnly one ofthe pennants 6 may be used, and when this modilication is resorted tothe pennant is arranged at the lett side of the automobile. The shaftsections la may have their outer portions ollset, as shown in Figure 7,so that the pennants Will, When in non-signaling position, clear toedoors of closed automobiles and occupy a position close to and parallelwith the tops oit the automobiles.

lt should be understood that the drawing is merely illustrative and'does not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the saiddrawing is illustrative of a preferred construction, it being myexpectation that various changes and modifications may be made Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is l. An automobile signal comprising a shaft, means torrotatably supporting the shaft in a horizontal position and relativelyhigh in elevation on the automobile with its ends projecting laterallybeyond the automobile, signaling members lixed to the projecting endsoie the shaft, the signaling members being arranged at right angles tothe axis ot the shaft and adapted to occupy a subL 1- tially verticalsignaling position and a substantially horizontal non-signalingposition, casings carried by the shaft and extendingv` through thesignaling members, the lowei.` sides of the casings being opened, lensescarried by the iront and rear sides ot the casings, lamps arrangedWithin the casings for illun'iinating the signaling members and thelenses when said members are in signaling position, and means lorturning the shaitt so as to move the signaling members from one positionto the other.

2. An automobile signal comprising a sha-lt, means for rotatablysupporting the shaft in a horizontal iosition and at airelatively highelevation on the automobile with one oli' its ends projecting laterallybeyond the auton'iobile, a signaling member lined to the projecting endoit the shaft, the signaling member being arranged right angles to theaxis ot' the shaft and adapted to occupy a substantially verticalsignaling positioii and a substantially horizontal non-signalingposition, a casing carried by the shaft and extending through thesignaling member, the lower side of the casing being opened, lensescarried by the iront and rear sides ol the cas` 4 ing, a lamp within thecasing tor illuminating the signaling member and the lenses when themember is in signaling position, and means for turning the shaft so asto more the signaling member from one position to the other.

ln testimony whereof l aliii; my signature.

